Fertilizer-feeder.



No. 722,528. 4 PATENTED MAR.10,1903. A. L. MINER & s. T. WEST.

FERTILIZER FEEDER.

APPLIGATION nun JULY 22, 1902. no MODEL.

mun-"MW W/ TNE SSE 8. IN VE N T096 NITEYD STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ABRAHAM L. MINER AND SIDNEY T. WEST, OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS.

FER TlLlZ'ER-FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,528, dated March10, 1903. Application filed July 22, 1902. Serial No. 116,507. (Nomodel.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ABRAHAM L. MINER and SIDNEY T. WEST, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of Kankakee, in the county of Kankakeeand State of Illinois,

have invented a new and Improved Fe rtili- We will describe afertilizer-feeder embodying our invention and then point out the novelfeatures in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures. Figure 1 is a plan view of afertilizer-feeder embodying our invention, and Fig. 2 is a section onthe line 2 20f Fig. 1.

The device comprises a receptacle 5, which is made bowl-shaped orconcaved, as shown, so that fertilizer may be readily fed to the center,where the bottom is provided with an outlet 6. Extended-through thereceptacleis a shaft 7, designed to be rotated by connection with radialparts of a planter upon which the device is placed. This shaft extendsthrough one side of the receptacle, and atthe opposite end the shaft hasa bearing in a bracket 8,which is open at the sides, so as to preventpacking of fertilizer against the same. Attached to the center of theshaft is an agitator and feeder consisting of radial arms 9, which havea length to reach nearly to the bottom of the receptacle.

Secured to the shaft at opposite sides of the agitator and feeder 9 arethe agitators and forcing devices 10 11. These forcing devices 10 11 arehere shown as substantially in the form of a crescent, with the concavedside inward. By this particular construction the said devices will notonly agitate or stir up the fertilizer, but will force the same towardthe feeding device 9. It is to be understood, however, that we do notconfine our invention to this particular form of agitators and forcingdevices, the object being merely to provide devices that will cause thefertilizer to move toward the. center, as before mentioned.

The opening 6 may be regulated as desired by means of a slide-plate 12,having an opening 13 corresponding in size to the opening 6. This plate12 slides in grooves formed in hangers 14, depending from thereceptacle. A shifting lever 15 is pivoted to an arm 16, extendedoutward from the receptacle, and has loose connection at its lower endwith the plate 12, while at the upper end it is provided with afastening-bolt 17, which passes through a slot formed in an arc-shapedarm 18, extended from the upper portion of the receptacle. The lever 15is provided with an offset handle 19. Obviously by operating the lever15 the plate 12 may be moved to cause the opening 13 to register more orless with the opening 6, thus regulating the discharge of fertilizer.

Having thus described our invention,-we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. A fertilizer-feeder comprising areceptaole-having an outlet at the bottom, a shaft extended through thereceptacle, radial arms attached to the shaft, and crescent-shapedagitating and forcing devices attached to the shaft at opposite sides ofsaid radial arms, substantially as specified.

2. A fertilizer feeder comprising a concaved receptacle having an outletat the bottom, means for regulating said outlet, ashaft extended throughthe receptacle, agitating and feeding arms extended from the shaft atthe center of the receptacle, and crescentshaped agitators and forcingdevices attached to the shaft at opposite sides of said arms,substantially as specified. I

3. A fertilizer-feeder comprising a receptacle of concaved form havingan outlet. at'the bottom, a reg ulatin g-plate movablealong said outlet,the said plate having an opening, a shaft extended through thereceptacle, arms extended radially from said shaft at the con ter, andcrescent-shaped forcing devices attached to the shaft at opposite sidesof the arms, substantially as specified.

4., A fertilizer feeder comprising a concaved receptacle having anoutlet at the bottom, hangers depending from said receptacle and havingslots, a plate movable in said slots, the said plate being provided withan opening for registering more or less with the outlet of thereceptacle, a lever pivoted to an arm extended from the receptacle andhaving a loose connection at its lower end with the slide-plate, anarc-shaped arm-extended from the upper portion of the receptacle andhaving a slot, a fastening bolt extended through the receptacle, feedingdevices on said shaft, and forcing devices on said shaft, substantiallyas specified.

5. A fertilizer-feeder adapted to be attached to a planter andcomprising a concaved receptacle, a shaft extended through an opening inone side of the receptacle, a bracket at the opposite side of thereceptacle forming a bearing for the end of said shaft, the said bracketbeing open at the sides, the receptacle being provided with an outlet atthe bottom, means for regulating the outlet, feeding devices on theshaft, and devices carried by the shaft for forcing material toward thefeeding-arms, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ABRAHAM L. MINER. SIDNEY '1. WEST.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. WASHINGTON, J. F. WEST.

